Even those who came into summer league with conflicted feelings about the Sacramento Kings young center were taken aback by the polar extremes Cousins displayed during his six games in Las Vegas. In his first three games, Cousins unveiled a broad range of skills, far more than his reputation as a raw big man suggested. He drained face-up jumpers, handled the ball in transition, worked off the dribble against defenders from the top of the circle, gobbled up rebounds then flicked perfect outlet passes fifty feet downcourt, and gracefully played pick-and-roll basketball with his guards.

But we also saw Cousins' immaturity and petulant body language. He jawed incessantly at opposing centers like Greg Stiemsma and Ian Mahinmi, and nagged game officials with impunity. After shooting 45.8 percent over his first three games, Cousins went 9-for-45 from the field in his final three and also saw his rebounding totals sag. When the Kings' coaching staff gave him instructions during huddles, Cousins pouted and looked away.

Whether Cousins' falloff was a product of poor conditioning, irritability or just self-disgust, one thing is certain: Cousins has more talent than advertised -- and it's going to be more difficult to harness than most of us realized.

No mention of Monroe even though several lesser players are mentioned.

LOSER: Ekpe Udoh(notes) The Golden State Warriors’ first-round pick missed the Las Vegas summer league after undergoing surgery on his injured left wrist that will keep him out six months. The absence of Udoh certainly has Warriors fans wondering if the franchise should have instead selected Greg Monroe(notes) with the No. 6 pick.

Pistons forward Greg Monroe, the club's first-round draft choice, has completed an impressive summer league performance in Las Vegas. Although the New Orleans Helen Cox product may have struggled at time, he showed flashes of excellence in his five games. In his summer-league finale he scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against the Knicks. Throughout five games he demonstrated that he is one of the closest to NBA-ready among big men in the 2010 draft. The only thing we didn't see from Monroe, who passed up his final two seasons at Georgetown, was his passing game

"He is a skilled basketball player. I describe him as old school," Pistons coach John Kuester said. "He's one of the few guys you watch and you say, 'Hey, he is what I thought he is going to become.' He understands how to play."

Dumars hopes he can build the future with the likes of Greg Monroe and rookie Terrico White. Jonas Jerebko, DaJuan Summers, and Austin Daye all have improved, as well. Point guard Edgar Sosa, the Louisville and New York City prep star, also has impressed Dumars at the summer-league games and could be invited to camp in October.

How about the Kings liked the guy as much as Pistons and wouldn't let Joe have him?

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Yep it really goes back to winning two of the last three games of the season that got us in this pickle....if you are going to tank a few games to set you up for a good future, why not do it right and just end it on a bad note.... after all, the Wizards, Kings, Warriors, Wolves and Sixers did it.

Yep it really goes back to winning two of the last three games of the season that got us in this pickle....if you are going to tank a few games to set you up for a good future, why not do it right and just end it on a bad note.... after all, the Wizards, Kings, Warriors, Wolves and Sixers did it.

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It's all a roll of the dice. Besides not knowing the way the lottery will go, who can say with certainty if Cousins will be a better player than GM?

was that the reason for his poor attitude too? reports I read said he was already ignoring the coaching and complaining to refs....

Why is it more times then not the guys with the most talent also have the worst muscle between the ears....

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Um, it's the divine balance. For example, a player like Dwight Howard can't have freakish size, strength, athleticism, a great attitude AND a jump shot. He'd be too good, and that would cause a rift in the space-time continuum.

It always balances out.

Monroe doesn't have the the leaping ability, but he has the attitude, intelligence and clever, quick thinking craftiness to his game. If he develops, he will be around for a loooong time. I see him sort of like a black Keven McHale, crafty... deadly crafty (with a knack for assists to boot).